Beverage heating system with integrated combustion system and method of heating beverages

ABSTRACT

A heating system for a beverage processing system with a beverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed, with a secondary flow of a heat conducting medium, where the secondary flow is passed in a closed secondary circuit, with at least one heat exchanger, through which the secondary current flows and is arranged such that it is able to transfer heat to the beverage flow. A combustion system is arranged in the secondary flow such that heat generated by the combustion system can be passed on to the heat conducting medium. Also, a method of heating beverages with a combustion system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of priority of GermanApplication No. 102011006653.5, filed Apr. 1, 2011. The entire text ofthe priority application is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a heating system for a beverage processingsystem.

BACKGROUND

Various flash pasteurization and ultra-heat treatment systems are knownfrom the state of the art which are generally operated with plate orshell-and-tube heat exchangers. A shell-and-tube heat exchanger isknown, for example, from EP 2 157 390 A2, DE 10 2009 040558 A1 and DE696 12 998 C2. A plate heat exchanger is for example known from EP 1 462752 B1.

Normally, the secondary flow is however only indirectly heated by afurther heated medium, such as for example steam, which is passed in atertiary circuit. For the heat transfer between the tertiary flow andsecondary flow various heat exchanger stages or heat exchanger sectionsare in turn required.

However, each time additional heat exchangers are employed there is areduction in efficiency which is undesirable.

Also the heat conducting medium used in the tertiary circuit, normallysaturated steam, is made available by a steam generator which is presentdecentrally, i.e. remote from the beverage flow. The steam must then bebrought over long distances from the steam generator to the heatingsystem for the beverage flow, which leads to extensive insulation and,despite all the cost-intensive measures, also leads to a drop intemperature. This too has a negative effect on the efficiency of thecomplete system.

Previous solutions are therefore not optimal for treating and/orprocessing beverages, i.e. the primary media, such as juices, milk orwater.

Apart from the energy losses on the long path from a central station,such as a boiler house, where the heat conducting medium used in thetertiary circuit is generated and the heat transfer losses or radiationlosses, which lead to the losses in efficiency, a substantial outlay inapparatus due to the lengthy pipework and insulation is currentlyrequired.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the present disclosure is to offer an improvement in thisrespect. More specifically, the disclosure provides a heating system fora beverage processing system where there is a beverage flow consistingof a beverage to be processed, with a secondary flow consisting of aheat conducting medium, whereby the secondary flow is passed in asecondary circuit, with at least one heat exchanger, through which thesecondary current flows and is arranged such that it is able to transferheat into the beverage flow.

This aspect is resolved according to the disclosure in that a combustionsystem is arranged in the secondary flow such that heat generated by thecombustion system can be passed to the heat conducting medium. The heatconducting medium is therefore directly generated by the integratedcombustion system and can pass on the heat introduced into the heatconducting medium to the beverage flow through the at least one heatexchanger.

The efficiency is consequently substantially improved, the outlay forapparatus is reduced and energy losses as well as heat transfer andradiation losses are minimized.

A heating system of this nature can be constructed substantially morecompactly than known heating systems.

Thus, it is advantageous if the combustion system is formed as a gasthermal source. Thermal sources of this nature are particularly flexiblein terms of the so-called start-and-stop cycles as well as in theclosed-loop control of the output temperature. Gas thermal sources ofthis nature can also be obtained economically on the market in variousversions, for example from suppliers who also offer gas thermal sourcesfor central heating systems, such as are also used in family homes.

A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that a bypass lineis connected to the secondary flow such that part of the heat conductingmedium or the complete heat conducting medium can be led past thecombustion system so that it remains unheated by the combustion system.With an embodiment of this nature it is possible to continue usingcooled-down heat conducting medium without reheating it. The flexibilityof the temperature control is increased in this way.

It is also advantageous, if a reservoir and/or a buffer is present inthe secondary circuit in which the heat conducting medium heated by thecombustion system can be temporarily stored and/or buffered, preferablybefore entry into the at least one heat exchanger. In this way thecombustion system does not need to be used so frequently and when thecombustion system is employed, it can be active over a longer timeperiod. This leads to an increase in efficiency and reduces the costs inoperating the heating system.

It is also advantageous if the heat conducting medium is water, say hotwater, and/or steam, say saturated steam.

If two heat exchangers, through which the secondary flow passes,interact with the beverage flow, it is possible to gently heat thebeverage flow, namely using a preheating system and a main heatingsystem.

The flexibility of the temperature control and of the embodiment of theheating system is then increased if the secondary flow can be passedfrom the combustion system through one heat exchanger and then throughthe other heat exchanger or a first part of the secondary flow can bepassed only through one heat exchanger and a second part of thesecondary flow can be passed only through the other heat exchanger.

The fluid control is also simplified if pipes, pumps and valves arepresent in the secondary circuit.

In particular it is advantageous if a mixing valve is present at the endof the bypass line to mix cold, returning heat conducting medium fromone or both heat exchangers with the heat conducting medium heated bythe combustion system.

The disclosure also relates to a method for heating beverages, whereby aheating system according to the disclosure is used. Here, a combustionsystem for heating the secondary flow is used directly, whereby nodetours via tertiary media are required.

It is advantageous if the secondary circuit is formed as a closedsecondary circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is also explained below with the aid of drawings. Here,three embodiments are illustrated. The following are shown:

FIG. 1 an extract of a schematic operating principle of a first heatingsystem according to the disclosure,

FIG. 2 an extract of a schematically illustrated second embodiment of aheating system, and

FIG. 3 an extract of a connection diagram of a third heating systemaccording to the disclosure.

The figures are only of a schematic nature and are only provided forunderstanding the disclosure. The same elements are provided with thesame reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A first heating system 1 according to the disclosure is illustrated asan extract in FIG. 1. The heating system is used within the scope of abeverage treatment system, in particular a flash pasteurization orultra-heat treatment system. A secondary flow 3 is used for heating abeverage flow 2, which may contain water, milk, juices or similarliquids.

The beverage flow 2 flows in the direction of the arrow 4. The secondaryflow flows in the direction of the arrow 5 and is held in a preferablyclosed secondary circuit. The secondary flow of heat conducting medium,such as for example water and/or steam, flows through a heat exchanger6.

In FIG. 1 two heat exchangers 6 are illustrated whereby it is possible,however, to use only one. If two or more heat exchangers, as in theembodiment according to FIG. 1, are used, the heat exchanger 6 throughwhich the secondary flow 3 first flows is designated as the first heatexchanger 7 and the heat exchanger 6 through which the secondary flow 3thereafter flows is designated as the second heat exchanger 8.

The second heat exchanger 8 leads to preheating of the beverage flow 2,whereas the first heat exchanger 7 leads to reheating of the beverageflow 2 to a desired final temperature. In principle it is possible touse a further heat exchanger, which operates on the principle ofrecuperation, between the two heat exchangers 7 and 8. This additionalheat exchanger has the reference numeral 9.

Viewed in the direction of flow of the secondary flow 3 before the firstheat exchanger 7, a combustion system 10 is arranged in the secondarycircuit. The combustion system 10 is a gas thermal source which passesheat to the secondary flow 3 during the combustion of gas. Thecombustion system 10 heats the secondary flow to a temperature of 140°C. to 160° C. A pump 11 is present in the appropriate pipe 12 betweenthe second heat exchanger 8 and the combustion system 10.

In FIG. 2 a second embodiment of a second heating system 1 according tothe disclosure is illustrated. Here the pipe 12 parts into two sectionsafter the combustion system 10. A first section 13 passes all parts ofthe secondary flow 3 to the first heat exchanger 7, whereas a secondsection 14 passes a further part of the secondary flow 3 to the secondheat exchanger 8.

Both sections 13 and 14 come together again shortly before the pump 11,which then passes the secondary flow to the combustion system 10.

In FIG. 3 a further embodiment of a heating system according to thedisclosure is illustrated, whereby a bypass line 15 is arranged in thesecondary circuit.

Another pump 16 is present in the bypass line 15, whereby a three-waymixing valve 17 is arranged at the end of the bypass line 15 oppositethe pump 16. The medium of the secondary flow 3 flowing through the twoheat exchangers 7 and 8 in the cooled-down state is fed in again bymeans of the mixing valve 17 shortly before the first heat exchanger 6,bypassing the combustion system 10. A reservoir 18 and the pump 11follow consecutively in the flow direction 5 viewed behind thecombustion system 10. The reservoir 18 can also be formed as a buffer.The reservoir 18 or buffer can also be formed as a stratified storagetank.

It is also possible to combine together single facets of the threeembodiments to increase the variability.

1. A heating system for a beverage processing system, comprising abeverage flow consisting of a beverage to be processed, with a secondaryflow composed of a heat conducting medium, wherein the secondary flow ispassed in a secondary circuit, with at least one heat exchanger, throughwhich the secondary flow flows and is arranged such to be able totransfer heat to the beverage flow, and a combustion system arranged inthe secondary flow such that the heat generated by the combustion systemcan be passed to the heat conducting medium.
 2. The heating systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the combustion system is formed as a gasheat source.
 3. The heating system according to claim 1, and a bypassline connected to the secondary flow such that part of or the completeheat conducting medium can be led past the combustion system so that thepart of or the complete heat conducting medium remains unheated by thecombustion system.
 4. The heating system according to claim 1, whereinin the secondary circuit one of a reservoir, a buffer and a combinationthereof is present in which the heat conducting medium heated by thecombustion system can be one of temporarily stored, buffered, and acombination thereof.
 5. The heating system according to claim 1, whereinthe heat conducting medium is one of water steam, and a combinationthereof.
 6. The heating system according to claim 1, and wherein twoheat exchangers, through which the secondary flow flows, interact withthe beverage flow.
 7. The heating system according to claim 6, whereinthe secondary flow from the combustion system is one of passed firstthrough one heat exchanger and then through the other heat exchanger anda first part of the secondary flow can only be passed through one heatexchanger and a second part of the secondary flow can only be passedthrough the other heat exchanger.
 8. The heating system according toclaim 7, and wherein pipes, pumps and valves are present in thesecondary circuit for appropriate fluid control.
 9. The heating systemaccording to claim 3, and wherein a mixing valve is present at the endof the bypass line to mix cold, returning heat conducting medium fromone or both heat exchangers to the heat conducting medium from thecombustion system.
 10. A method of heating beverages with a combustionsystem in a heating system as formed according to the claim
 1. 11. Theheating system according to claim 4, wherein the heated heat conductingmedium can be one of temporarily stored, buffered, and a combinationthereof before entering the at least one heat exchanger.
 12. The heatingsystem according to claim 5, the heating system according to claim 5,wherein the water is hot water.
 13. The heating system according toclaim 5, wherein the steam is saturated steam.